Pile driver skid runner



May 1, 1956 w. R. FAIRCHILD PILE DRIVER SKID RUNNER Filed July 26, 1952 FIG.3

FIG. 1

FIG. 2

INVENTOR WILLIAM R. FAIRCHILD w BY ATTORN EY United States Patent PllLE DRIVER SKID RUNNER William R. Fairchild, Hattiesburg, Miss.

Application July 26, 1952, Serial No. 301,073

1 Claim. ((31. zen- 2s This invention relates to improved skids for portable pile drivers. More specifically, it relates to improved rigid runners for portable pile driver skids so that the portable pile driver may be moved from one place to another without undue twisting and bending of the runners on the skid.

In my earlier issued United States Patent 2,477,867, skid runners on portable pile drivers are disclosed and claimed. Although the runners described in my earlier patent are satisfactory, the advantages obtained through use of the claimed improved runners are outstanding thus greatly contributing to more eflicient portability of pile drivers.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide portable pile driver runners which are substantially rigid and free of twisting action.

An additional object of this invention is to provide boxlike or rectangular-like runners for portable pile drivers, the upper surface of which forms a walkway so that workmen may move thereon from one end of the pile driver frame to the other.

A further object of the invention is to provide runners for pile drivers utilizing conventional structural steel members to obtain the advantages described herein.

Other and more specific objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a pile driver skid and a fragmentary portion of the driver positioned at the forward end of the skid,

Figure 2 shows an enlarged fragmentary part of Figure 1 showing a portion of the frame end of the skid and an enlarged portion of the driver, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Fig ure 2 showing in cross section the improved runners of the skid.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals identify similar parts throughout the various views, indicates a portion of pile driver A frame, as more specifically described in my Patents 2,423,301 and 2,477,867, pivotally mounted at 12 at the forward end of skid 14. The A frame 10 is normally held in upright position by brace 16 and prop 18 shown in fragmentary portions. Skid 14, which is adapted to be drawn along the ground from one place to another on novel runners to be more fully described below, is made up of a truss structure including top chords 20 and reinforced with braces 22 as shown in Figure 2.

Skid 14 includes a pair of spaced apart parallel runners ice 24 connected by a stiffening cross member 26. Each runher 24- is made up of an inverted T member having a base flange 28 with a substantially intermediately positioned upright flange 30, and angle bars 32 positioned at each side of the upright flange 30 extending along the entire length of the runner. The edges 34 and 36 of the flanges of angle bars 32 are secured, as by Welding, to base flange 28 and upright flange 30 respectively of the inverted T bar.

The runners 2d thus constructed form a box-like structure substantially rectangular in cross section and form a rigid runner for the pile driver structure built thereon. The l' shaped members and angle bars 32 are readily available in commerce and may speedily be assembled by welding the extremities 36 and 34 to base 23 and the upright flange 34 respectively of the inverted T member.

Figure 3 clearly illustrates the manner in which the A frame it is mounted on the spaced apart runners 24 of the skid 14. Since, however, such mounting is not part of the invention, no further comment relating thereto is necessary.

The runners 24 as described are substantially free of twisting motion as the pile driver is moved from place to place or when in use driving pile. The importance of rigidity in the runners is evident and through the simple construction as shown, the objects stated herein are ac complished.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction shown herein. Numerous modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification and upon study of the accompanying drawings. Such modifications are intended to come within the scope of the present invention, and the invention described and claimed herein shall be limited only by the claim.

I claim:

In a pile driver, a supporting base in the form of a horizontal elongated skid having spaced apart box-like runners, each runner composed of an inverted T bar having a base and an intermediate flange, and an angle bar positioned on each side of the intermediate flange extending in substantially parallel relationship along the length of the runner, one of the flange edges of each angle bar being secured to the sides of the intermediate flange and the other flange edges of each of the angle bars being secured to the base flange of the inverted T bar, the upper surface of the angle bar flanges which are secured to the sides of the intermediate flange forming the upper surface of the runner, said upper surface of the runner providing an area for a walkway for workmen moving from one end of the pile driver frame to the other end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 496,465 White May 2, 1893 939,343 Snyder Nov. 9, 1909 963,015 Wentworth June 28, 1910 1,552,990 Hunt Sept. 8, 1925 2,253,193 Niessen Aug. 19, 1941 2,257,665 Altndale Sept. 30, 1941 2,477,867 Fairchild Aug. 2, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 841,840 France Feb. 20, 1939 

